Willkommen im Zentrum für Internationale Lichtkunst Unna

INTERNATIONAL LIGHT ART AWARD 2019

An Initiative of the Center for International Light Art Unna and the innogy Stiftung für Energie und Gesellschaft

Exhibition of the Finalists | June 8 – November 10, 2019

The Centre for International Light Art in Unna and the innogy Stiftung für Energie und Gesellschaft for the third time present the INTERNATIONAL LIGHT ART AWARD (ILAA). The award’s goal is to sponsor and support emerging artists that use light as their main material. Since the first edition in 2015 the award gained international recognition: 357 submissions from 61 countries answered this year’s Open Call.

Artists are challenged to explore new perspectives around the theme “The Future of Light Art”. An internationally renowned jury in the end selected the three final concepts and awarded the prize to the artist Jacqueline Hen. The award includes prize money of 10,000 euros.

Jacqueline Hen operates between design, art and research. Her work “LIGHT HIGH” investigates possible social transformations through communication and participation at the intersection of physical and virtual habitats. An LED-controlled simulation brings visitors to a more reflective self-perception.

Yasuhiro Chida creates a realm of experience with his “Myrkvior”. He gathers visual and sensual impressions from caving or hiking and translates these images and emotions by using clear-cut but unobtrusive techniques. Subjective experiences are visualized at an alternate, parallel place.

The artist duo Dachroth and Jeschonnek works together on projects since their mutual studies. With their discovery of the “Lichtvolumen”, a new physical phenomenon, they transform light into a sculptural and sensible material. The museum’s vaulted cellar will be filled by a “Negative Space of Light” – a black hole in its own right. Light, which appears because it’s not there. It leaves us behind with nothing but questions.

The third edition of ILAA literally revolves around three ideas of realization, inviting the museum’s visitors on a journey.

For the first time, visitors have the opportunity to vote on the concepts of the finalists as part of an audience choice award.

In parallel with the main exhibition, the ILAA 2019 also offers a platform for students to test innovative approaches and for cultivating dialogue and discussion about light art. Professors and teachers from art schools in Germany, Austria, and the Benelux countries have been invited to recommend students, who then submit concept for their individual light installations. Seven concepts are selected, and each receives a budget of 1,000 euro to realize an installation: